Cowper, William

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Title: 1st Earl Cowper

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001137.0x0003cf

Epithet: FRS, Surgeon and Anatomist

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Epithet: poet

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Epithet: M D of Chester

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Epithet: 1797

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Epithet: of Add MS 12505

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Epithet: of Add MS 30801

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Epithet: Cheshire antiquarry

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Epithet: Major

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Epithet: MBE; formerly Headmaster of Jamaica College

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Epithet: of Add MS 36359

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William Cowper (1731-1800), poet, was born at Great Berkhampstead on 15 November 1731, the son of John Cowper, D.D., and Anne, daughter of Roger Donne of Ludham Hall, Norfolk. He was educated at Westminster School, before spending three years articled to a solicitor. He entered Middle Temple in 1748, and was called to the bar in 1754, becoming a commissioner of bankrupts in 1759. As a result of his declining mental health, Cowper was taken to a private house at St Albans for treatment in December 1763. After his recovery, he resigned his commissionership of bankruptcy. He removed to Huntingdon in 1765, where he befriended John Newton, vicar of Olney, whom he assisted in his parish duties. Cowper suffered from a fresh bout of mania in 1773, but recovered to devote himself to literary work. A volume of his poems was published in 1782, and the publication of the Task in 1785 won him popular acclaim. As well as producing other volumes of poems, Cowper's translation of Homer's Iliad was published in 1791, and he edited an edition of Milton, which included his translations of Latin and Italian poems. He died on 25 April 1800.

John Johnson (d. 1833) was the grandson of Cowper's mother's elder brother, Roger Donne, and studied at Cambridge University.

From the guide to the William Cowper: Notes on Dreams, 1797-1799, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

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referencedIn	" THE LATIN POEMS of [John] Milton .... translated, together with his Italian Sonnets, into English verse by William Cowper of the Inner Temple Esq." In two parts: -(a.) Original draft with autograph corrections. ff. 1-103. (b.) Fair copy of the sam..., 18th century	British Library
referencedIn	" VARIATIONS from the first edition of the Iliad translated by William Cowper." Autograph. Printed, as revised, in the 2nd edition, published in 1802, by John Johnson. Paper; ff. 73. xviiith cent. Small Quarto., 18th century	British Library
referencedIn	"TWO MEMORIALS of Hayley's Endeavours to serve his Friend Cowper," by William Hayley. Holograph. These memorials, especially the second, are treated by E. Dowden in The Atlantic Monthly, vol. c (1907), p. 74, and illustrated with many extracts. They ..., 1794-1809	British Library
referencedIn	(IV. ff. 138). Co. Bucks (N-W).County of Buckingham: Drawings of churches, etc., in: 1805-1863.includes:f. 3 Nettleden, Buckinghamshire: View of church: 1814. f. 3 b Ashridge, Buckinghamshire: Plans, etc., and sketches of: 1813-1844. f. 3 b Denham,..., 18th century-19th century	British Library
referencedIn	(XIII. ff. 190). 12 Aug. 1745-31 May, 1746.includes:f. 7 John Manners, 3rd Duke of Rutland: Suit v. Duncombe: 1745-1746. f. 7b John Bromley: Suit v. Child: 1743-1745. f. 16b William Tooms: Suit v. Couset: 1745. ff. 22, 27 Thomas Lingood: Suit v. E...	British Library
referencedIn	). MISCELLANEOUS original letters and papers, etc., 1645-1910. Paper (except art. A) ff. 202. Folio., 1645-1910	British Library
referencedIn	A VOLUME of the Collections made by Sir Julius Caesar, Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, and Master of the Rolls, temp. James I containing original Letters and Papers chiefly relating to Admiralty affairs. Seventy two letters from [Charles Howard...	British Library
referencedIn	BLENHEIM PAPERS. Vol. CCCLXIII (ff. 211). (1) Correspondence with James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos; 1705-1724. ff. 1-41b. (2) Correspondence with Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford; 1709-1737. ff. 42-56b. (3) Letters from Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl..., 1705-1737	British Library
referencedIn	BLENHEIM PAPERS. Vol. CCLX (ff. 210). (1) Verses, chiefly relating to Marlborough and his victories; circ. 1704-[1722?], n.d. Partly French, Dutch and Latin. Partly printed. ff. 1-95b. Including: — (a) Prologue for a performance of the opera, Camill..., 1699-1731	British Library
referencedIn	BLENHEIM PAPERS. Vol. XXXIV (ff. 237). (1) Letters from George Granville, Baron Lansdowne, mostly as Secretary at War; 1706-1711; including, as enclosures, minutes and regulations of the Committee of Council at the War Office in 1711, for which see I..., 1702-1715	British Library

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correspondedWith	Baird, Spencer F.
associatedWith	Cowper William 1731-1800
associatedWith	Foley, Donald L.
associatedWith	Foley, Katharine
correspondedWith	Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878
associatedWith	Houghton Library.
associatedWith	Johnson John d 1833

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